The Police Cloud [Hardcover]

Christoph Niemann (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 3 and up | Grade Level: P and up

In this funny and tender picture book for the youngest child, a fluffy cloud gets a job (with the help of his friend the police helicopter) as a police officer. But no matter how hard he tries, the qualities that make him a cloud seem to get in the way of his duties. He blocks the sun at the park instead of helping people and obscures traffic at an intersection instead of directing it. Upset, the cloud starts to cry. And it's his streaming tears—which inadvertently put out a fire in a burning building—that lead him to his true calling in life: as a firefighter!

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

From the time he was a small puff, the cloud protagonist of Christoph Niemann's The Police Cloud has dreamed of becoming a police officer. With some pull from a helicopter friend, the cloud gets his wish and dons the coveted big blue hat. He starts his first day of work with great enthusiasm. Unfortunately, some folks just aren't cut out to be defenders of the law. The well-meaning clouds blunders one assignment after another, obscuring the vision and light of everyone he tries to help. Alas! Is there no profession just right for this good-hearted cloud?

In his first picture book, New Yorker, Atlantic Monthly, and New York Times illustrator Christoph Niemann captures the oh-so-ardent wish power of childhood, and sweetly demonstrates the fact that although everyone can't do everything, everyone can do something. Niemann's bold, striking illustrations will appeal to readers of all ages, especially the very youngest. --Emilie Coulter

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 1—Ever since he was a small puff, the cloud had wanted to be a police officer. Sound familiar? Children with similar aspirations will find a somewhat fluffy hero to which they can relate as they witness his adventures and misadventures while on patrol. When the cloud tries to stop a bank robber, for instance, the bad guy walks right through him and escapes. He tries to direct traffic, but the drivers can't see—too foggy. And nobody wants him to patrol the park: he blocks the sun. These droll situations evoke sympathy and smiles. Realizing that he's a flop as a cop, the cloud floats into despair. When he begins to cry, he unwittingly puts out a blazing building with his tears, suggesting an eminently suitable new line of work and resulting in a happy ending. Niemann hits the ground running with his first picture book. His situations are easy to understand, his narrative logical. The main character is so very likable, partly a result of the gentle dialogue and the enticing computer-generated artwork. The artist has a genius for design, combining sweetly old-fashioned cartoon images with contemporary bold colors and shapes. The book's layout couldn't be more arresting. This endearing offering is sure to rise swiftly on the storytime hit parade.—Susan Weitz, formerly at Spencer-Van Etten School District, Spencer, NY
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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 3 and up
  
• Hardcover: 40 pages
• Publisher: Schwartz & Wade (March 13, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0375839631
• ISBN-13: 978-0375839634
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 0.4 x 10.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #297,659 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Christoph Niemann's illustrations have appeared on the covers of The New Yorker, Wired, Newsweek, The New York Times Magazine and American Illustration. His work has won numerous awards from the American Institute of Graphic Arts, the Art Directors Club and American Illustration. He is the author of several children's books, among them "The Pet Dragon," which teaches Chinese characters to young readers and most recently "I LEGO N.Y", where he depicts New York through ultra minimal lego sculptures. For the Website of the New York Times he writes and illustrates a blog called "Abstract City" . After 11 years in New York, he moved to Berlin with his wife, Lisa, and their three sons. His web site is christophniemann.com.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a book both you and your little ones will love!, March 13, 2007

By 

Charlie's Mom (Maplewood, NJ United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Police Cloud (Hardcover)

THE POLICE CLOUD is a huge hit in our house, we've been reading it almost every night and for at least 10 minutes at a pop, pretty amazing considering the typical attention span of a not-quite two year old. And unlike my son's previous favorite, a book of cars/trucks/boats/etc which I finally had to hide because I couldn't stand having to read it night after night after night, I highly recommend this one as a book both kids AND parents will enjoy!

It's so charming, sweet and smart and full of great details both visual -- the illustration of the angry parkgoers makes me laugh out loud every time -- and in the writing itself. My son loves pointing out the cloud's police hat, the helicopter, the part where the thief gets away (he yells "stop!" and points his finger at the burglar), the crash at the intersection ("oh no!"), the part where the cloud gets sad ("cloud crying!"), of course the arrival of the fire truck, and then the ending, with the smiling cloud ("cloud happy!"). He even loves the back cover, which he keeps flipping upside down (to make the overturned truck become right side up) and back again, over and over and over, laughing and exclaiming all the while. He is smitten, and so am I.

This is our new favorite, hands down, and will be our standard birthday party gift for the under six set for a while to come.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars View from the FDNY, November 14, 2008

By 

critical joe (NYC area) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Police Cloud (Hardcover)

My 5 y.o. daughter brought this book home from the library, and after reading it to her last night I was laughing my patookus off. This book is sooo true. You see, I'm a firefighter and I work with a bunch of ex-cops-and they're all so much happier- it never does go the other way around. The primary moral of the story is all fine and well, but the execution takes on a deeper meaning if you are, or were a cop or firefighter. So here I am reviewing this book & buying a copy for my firehouse. Great stuff!!
{possible insurance disclaimer: this does not apply in any way shape or form, intended or unintended to highway cops}

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars my kids love it, February 20, 2008

By 

Sandy Brook "Happy Mom" (Philadelphia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Police Cloud (Hardcover)

My kids - and their 4-,5-, and 6-year old friends - love the police cloud!
This perky little character and his helicopter friend are just too cute. And I love the message behind the adventure: follow your dreams! What looks like a setback can turn out to be the solution to a problem!